The regency of Pesisir Selatan in West Sumatra passed a "Muslim Clothing" Act (Peraturan Daerah 04 Berpakaian Muslim dan Muslimah) on 5th September 2005. It begins with the following declarations:

all citizens have the right to hold and practise their religion, and live in accordance with it.

concealing aurat (the part of the body that must be covered for the sake of basic decency) is a requirement of Islamic law for both the specific act of worship and the general.

one's daily dress is one of the reflections of one's observation of Islam.

most Muslims (in the regency) today do not dress in accordance with their religion or Minangkabau culture.

to mould the way of life of the people and to reflect the identity of Muslim men and women it is viewed that this law is necessary.

What follows is an abridged version of the law, with the humdrum things left out.

Article 2The Meaning

The wearing of Muslim clothing is meant to show that people and society are full of faith in God and apply the teachings of Islam.

Article 3The Purpose

To form a good attitude and good morals in every Muslim man and woman.

To get people used to wearing Muslim attire in their daily lives, and for the sake of having the [teachings of the] Islamic religion heard.

To create a society which loves Islamic culture and Minangkabau culture.

To preserve the values of Minangkabau culture and tradition.

Article 4The Function

The wearing of Muslim clothing is to protect dignity and as an expression of Muslim and Minangkabau identity.

Article 5The Requirements

Every employee, university student, junior high and high school student, is required to wear Islamic clothing, while the rest of society is encouraged to.

Article 6The Implementation

The wearing of Muslim clothing is to be done at both government and private offices, education institutions from junior high school onwards, and at official functions.

People in general are urged to dress Islamically in their daily lives including when they are at public entertainment events.

Article 7

Male office workers must wear trousers and long or short-sleeved shirts.

Female office workers must wear long-sleeved blouses/shirts which cover their hips/backsides, ankle length skirts or trousers, headscarfs which cover their hair, ears, neck, the nape of the neck, and chest.

Such clothing must not be tight or show the body's outline.

A forthcoming ruling by the Regent will further explain these matters.

[Differences between Article 7 and 8 are underlined or crossed out.]

Article 8

Male students must wear trousers and long or short-sleeved shirts.

Female students must wear long-sleeved blouses/shirts which cover their hips/backsides and extend to the knees, ankle length skirts or trousers, headscarfs which cover their hair, ears, neck, the nape of the neck, and chest.

Such clothing must not be tight or show the body's outline.

A forthcoming ruling by the Regent will further explain these matters.

Article 9

For official events clothing is to be in accordance with the type of event and the rules of the place.

Article 10Penalties
Violations of these rules will be dealt with like so:

For government employees - punishments are determined in the civil service disciplinary regulations.

For school and university students - first a verbal warning, then a written warning, then informing of the student's parents, then suspension, then expulsion.

The Regent will explain more about penalties for students in a forthcoming regulation.

For formal events - a verbal instruction to the organising committee to improve their ways.

[No penalties for non-government employees are mentioned.]

Article 11Compliance

The Regent, certain other officials, and societal figures will observe whether the law is being obeyed.

93 Comments on “Muslim Clothing”

It sounds like there are some non Muslims having a fuss about some Muslims wanting to enforce the small basics of Islam on it’s people. Islamically, and in most religions I’ve studied (Judaism, Christianity, and Islaam), it is your religious rite and duty on your people to guide them towards the truth,

Firstly, what exactly have you studied? Torah or Talmud, Injeel or Gospels, Al Quran or Sunnah and Hadith? The Truth or Manmade Fabrications? If you had studied AL Quran you would know that Allah does not wish us to enforce anything on anybody, He states quite clearly:

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” 2:256

Guiding people toward the truth yes, compulsion no!.

including dress

Just what do you mean by dress? Considering that Al Quran is Complete, Perfect and Fully detailed, and that Allah has stated that He does not run out of words and that if all the oceans were ink He could use them all and the same again.

What according to your understanding does Allah command women or men to wear?

He states that for both men and women modesty is the best dress, He states that a woman should cover her breasts with her outer garments, He also states that a Muslimah should lengthen her clothes? But what else from Al Quran? don’t forget complet perfect and fully detailed!

Now the people complaining to much, if they are Muslim, they should first feel ashamed that they are actually upset about some people enforcing the people to cover properly”¦

A true Muslim would never enforce anything on anybody, remember what Allah says in the verse above, “Let there be no compulsion in religion”

good grief covering properly is the outward part of Eman, and if you can’t even cover properly how are you gonna work on the heart?

Where exactly in Al Quran does it state this, please enlighten us?

It’s really said but its sounds like some people on this forum really need to read some Quran and stop spitting ignorance and nonsense out of their mouths w/o knowledge.

How I agree with you, they need to use Al Quran and forget about their corrupted Sunnah and Hadith. At last you have said something I can understand as having come from Al Quran:

“Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers.
Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.” 6:114

Furthermore Shariah came with Islaam.

The Sharia of the Prophet maybe, but certainly not your Sunnah and Hadith inspired nonsense, which leads astray the true Muslims from Allahs Straight Path, The word isn’t even in Al Quran.

Whoever said that it was around long before islaam is a lier.

Sharia means “Straight Path”, are you saying that Allahs previous revelations, which Al Quran confirms did not contain a straight path from him, very bold statement on your part I would say!:

“And this Qur’an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind – Therein is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.”

Before islam came most of the women were dressing like the Jews.

Where did you get this from? The vast majority of the Arabs, who were nomadic Bedouin, dressed like pagan nomadic Bedouin, wearing tribal costumes, the city dwellers who were also predominantly Pagans, were undoubtedly wearing whatever was in fashion at the time.

Sister you need to stop reading you propagandist literature and start to read some real history, broaden your knowledge a little.

Subhanallah sisters and brothers, STUDY YOUR DEEN! This isn’t about Arab, Javanese, American, European, Pakistani, THIS IS ABOUT MUSLIM! PERIOD FULL STOP!

Study everything you can, not just some manmade fabrications and narrowminded mainstream Islamic interpretation of Religion and History. Because Miriam has clearly pointed out that this is about Arabisation and Shariaisation! What she has pointed out, is not Muslim, it is Arab Tradition, Culture and Law. Al Quran was sent to release people from oppression, and slavely, it was sent to enlighten them, not to condone them to another type of despotism.

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Has anybody actually carried out an independent unbiased referendum and asked the people of Aceh?

Muhammad, prophet muhammad sallalahu alaihi wa salam, didnt’ go around asking people, “Would you like to dress the way your Lord command you to?” NO, He sallalahu alaihi wa salam said, “this is the way ALlah subhanahu wa t’allah wants you to dress”¦.” and the women RAN to cover in shame!!! Why would you ask people if they’re interested in following their own religion?

As to the way The Lord commanded them, where is it? Some examples please?

As to the Prophet consulting and taking council with the people, and the evidence of democratic implementation of Law and Rules:

“And those who answer the call of their Lord and establish worship, and whose affairs are a matter of counsel ..” 42:38

“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs ..” 3:159

I used to brag so highly of Indonesians, about how they’re the largest Muslim country so on and so on, but it sounds like you guys really need to get with it. ANd for someone who carry’s the name of our teacher sallalahu alaihi wa salam, you really should reconsider your view, and comments”¦

Reconsider my views and comments? When you said earlier “it is your religious rite and duty on your people to guide them towards the truth, ” My views and comments are based on Al Quran, can you say as much. Why do you think that Allah’s word is not enough?

Al Quran is The Word of God, do not corrupt it with your Sunnah and Hadith, yes it is simple, it already includes democracy, and it is perfectly logical. What has complicated it is the inclusion of Arab Culture, and Manmade Fabrications.

Allah created Islam perfect back when, it applied back when, its still perfect now, and it applies now, UNLESS of course you attempt to change it, and how do they say? Civilize it? or perhaps modernize it? Not sure which word is more fitting.

Islam as it is given to The Prophets and Messengers through time is perfect in that you are correct, but as it is applied after those Messengers have died, it is far from perfect. Every people who have been given revelation by Allah, have somehow managed to allow manmade corruptions to infiltrate it’s perfection. In our case that is Sunnah and Hadith. Allah says “Now that I have given them this book, complete and full detailed, in which stories will they believe?”

It sounds like there are some non Muslims having a fuss about some Muslims wanting to enforce the small basics of Islam on it’s people.

Let me just remind you of a verse in Al Quran:

“There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower” 2:256

Unless you or your sources know better than Allah?

Islamically, and in most religions I’ve studied (Judaism, Christianity, and Islaam), it is your religious rite and duty on your people to guide them towards the truth, including dress

Guide yes, compel no, see above 2:256

Dress, what do you mean? Allah says that His Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed, and I can only find the following with reference to dress:

“O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!” 7:26

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their khimar over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.” 24:31

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” 33:59

So where is this dress that you speak of, unless of course you or your sources know better than Allah?

(in Islaam that means first with your hands, if you can’t with your hands, then with your words, and if you can’t with words, then with your heart, and with your heart is the weakest of Iman). and Allah knows best.

You say Allah know best, but I cannot find any of your statement above in Al Quran?

Now the people complaining to much, if they are Muslim, they should first feel ashamed that they are actually upset about some people enforcing the people to cover properly”¦

See the answer above about no compulsion., Actually those that should be ashamed are those that are compelling others, because that is going against Allahs’ direct command in Al Quran.

good grief covering properly is the outward part of Eman, and if you can’t even cover properly how are you gonna work on the heart?

And where does it state this in Al Quran? or do you have other sources apart from Allah?

It’s really said but its sounds like some people on this forum really need to read some Quran and stop spitting ignorance and nonsense out of their mouths w/o knowledge.

Couldn’t agree with you more, but so many who are lead astray think they are following Al Quran and Allah’s complete perfect and fully detailed book, but are actually following manmade innovations called Sunnah and Hadith!

Furthermore Shariah came with Islaam.

What is your definition of Islam? Is it the narrow minded Sunnah and Hadith definition of somebody who follows Al Quran and their Sunnah and Hadith, or is it the definition from Allah of Submitter, somebody who submits to Allah’s Will, who can be Jew, Christian, Muslim, Sabean or the true followers of who knows how many other Scripture Allah has given?

Whoever said that it was around long before islaam is a lier.

A very bold statement indeed, are you saying that based on your limited definition of Islam, that Sharia, which means “straight path” was not defined in Torah or Injeel? I though they were also Divine Guidance From Allah?:

“And this Qur’an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind – Therein is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.” 10:37

Before islam came most of the women were dressing like the Jews.

You must have gotten this statement from your “The Hadith and Sunnah, Blame everything on the Jews book” The Arabs at the time of Revelation of Al Quran were predominantly Bedouin, nomadic Arabs they would have been wearing clothes designed for living in the heat and sand of the desert and decorated in tribal paterns, the design of which have lasted until the present day with very little change.
The vast majority of them were pagans, Jewish influence was limited in Arabia, in fact there were more Christians there than Jews, Why should the Arabs have been wearing Jewish costumes or imitating their style??

Read some history about Ancient Arabia, broaden you knowledge a little.

Subhanallah sisters and brothers, STUDY YOUR DEEN! This isn’t about Arab, Javanese, American, European, Pakistani, THIS IS ABOUT MUSLIM! PERIOD FULL STOP!

Yes, study your deen, but do not forget that it is from Allah and no others, follow only His Complete, Perfect, and Fully Detailed Book if you want guidance. You are right that it not about “Arab, Javanese, American, European, Pakistani” His Book, is Universal, for all people and all time, so do not be blinded by the Medaeival Arabisation of Islam, follow the Universal Truth.
______________

Has anybody actually carried out an independent unbiased referendum and asked the people of Aceh?

“And those who answer the call of their Lord and establish worship, and whose affairs are a matter of counsel ..” 42:38

“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs ..” 3:159

The seeds of democracy wouldn’t you say?

“Would you like to dress the way your Lord command you to?” NO, He sallalahu alaihi wa salam said, “this is the way ALlah subhanahu wa t’allah wants you to dress”¦.” and the women RAN to cover in shame!!! Why would you ask people if they’re interested in following their own religion?

See the points above, where does Al Quran tell women how to dress? Where does it tell us that Women ran to cover their shame? and see the point about consultation with the people instead of dictatorship.

I used to brag so highly of Indonesians, about how they’re the largest Muslim country so on and so on, but it sounds like you guys really need to get with it.

Get with what, your manmade Sunnah and Hadith Innovations or the True Islam of Allah in Al Quran?

ANd for someone who carry’s the name of our teacher sallalahu alaihi wa salam, you really should reconsider your view, and comments”¦

But it was you yourself who said “it is your religious rite and duty on your people to guide them towards the truth” That is exactly what I am doing! I am trying to guide people back to Al Quran, rather than letting them be led astray by Manmade Innovations and Faslehoods.

Allah clearly says:Say: “If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid.” 18:109

Do you really think that the Creator with all his power, would leave his guidebook in such a state that he had to rely on ordinary men to complete it for him?

Akhi, Quran and Sunnah, it’s simple, don’t complicate it with democracy, culture, logic, and your opinion. Allah created Islam perfect back when, it applied back when, its still perfect now, and it applies now, UNLESS of course you attempt to change it, and how do they say? Civilize it? or perhaps modernize it? Not sure which word is more fitting.

Al Quran is simple, it is logical, it is not complicated, it already contains democracy in action, it doesn’t need your Arabic inspired culture to destroy the culture of others because it is univeral in nature, it certainly doesn’t need the opinions of the collectors of Hadith or Sunnah.

Allah did create Islam as perfect, unfortunately people have a habit of taking his word and making up their own because His is not enough for them. Allah’s True Islam is still perfect but like the religions before it Mainstream Islam as practiced today is far from his guidance and has wandered far from His Straight Path.

Change, Civilise, Modernise? it wouldn’t need it if it was still His True Path, because it wouldn’t be stuck in a Medaeival Arabic timewarp! True Islam is Timeless and Universal, it already fits everything and doesn’t expect anything to change to fit it.

Sister, it seems that despite all your “sallalahu alaihi wa salam” and “ALlah subhanahu wa t’a” You don’t really know what comes from your Lord or what comes from the mouth so men!

it is your religious rite and duty on your people to guide them towards the truth, including dress (in Islaam that means first with your hands, if you can’t with your hands, then with your words, and if you can’t with words, then with your heart, and with your heart is the weakest of Iman).

Miriam, how is it that if one doesn’t wear the jilbab means that she is not following the truth? Besides what is the “truth” anyway? Why is the value is judged by what she wears? I am not talking about girls in skimpy clothes here, but simply just girls who just don’t wear the jilbab who may also be good people.

Before islam came most of the women were dressing like the Jews

and how was this exactly? Why don’t people understand that their teaching is much more similar to Islam than any other religions and yet they hate each other so much?

Whoever utter this nonsense is a disgrace to your ancestral cultural heritage, and beyond reproach. Tell that to your nenek moyang they are morally repulsive in their time pre-Islamic era, AND you get a big spank on your buttock. Back your claim with evidence. Our great civilisation is collapsing under the threat of talibanisation and you are assisting it. Don’t you have any Indonesian pride at all?

This is clear proof what religion had done to this young girl’s mind. Don’t you feel sick Arab visitors frequented our shore, impregnate our women, and leave them after their contract marriages expire. But tell me where you are. I would like you to be my 2nd or 3rd or 4th wife, or perhaps a contract marriage is more apt, after all it is sanctioned by Allah.

Anyway, your opinion is not worth a dime, after all Mohammad said the majority of dwellers in hell are women.

Salam.

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Shame on you. You need intensive rehab. I hope you are not Dayak or Javanese. We don’t carry middle eastern names even though as Muslims, and are VERY proud of our cultural heritage. Maybe your ancestors have issue with morality. Definitely not us!

I don’t know the contain Al-Qur’an very much but I am sick of the issue of Muslim clothing. Whats wrong with now?Is it clothing more important than to practice the rukun islam ? The fact is, my mate who’s wear jilbab kebanyakan jadi perawan tua and the others who’s not wear jilbab they got their faith married and have kids. That what most women want married and setlle. They don’t look attractive in under cover that swat they said. I think some people exactgerating asal sopan apasih salahnya?I like simple but not stupid and I don’t like being push what to wear and what not to wear. Live is not complicated so don’t panic Mr mannering? We are not that bad as you though.

Dear mbak Khusnul Khotimah, if you are an Indonesian Muslimah, you are not a Muslim then. Read the quran and hadis, and you will find that it is the wish of Allah Subhana Wata’ala that women should cover up. There is no exception.
Salam.

Are those people in sumatra are all moron, even clothing needs a harsh rule?
Is it an islam that indo wants?
Although suharto was a dictator, he did a god job in repressing islamic radicals.
Ikhant, aluang is always freak, no wonder.

I don’t need your judgement Aluang I don’t need you to tell me what to read. I am not just born yesterday. Everything I do is between God and I. If your aim more unmarried women so you can marry them as 2nd, 3rd, 4th wife and you used Sunnah Rosul. You are not in a real world. Don’t you dare using religion for your fantasy. Are you despared or what?

Dear mbak Khusnul Khotimah, good Muslimah are born cover their aurat and to listen to their husband. Check verse below.

Quran verse 4:34 Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme. Dawood[2]

…..Everything I do is between God and I…..

This is a Christian concept. You carry Arab name so I thought you are a Muslimah. Thousand apologies.

Also re,

I don’t need your judgement Aluang I don’t need you to tell me what to read.

Just in case you don’t know, you are posting in public domain for everyone to see and comment.

If you want other to respect you, you should learn how to respect. As far as I corncern human born naked cover with blood. You should relax and watch James Bond’s movie, quite interesting. I am sure they are available in Indo.

The time has come. The Islamic worlds are in turmoil, the crusaders have risen from their ashes, and Muslims must unite to fight this evil, whether you like it or not. See quran verse below.

Qur’an:8:5 “Your Lord ordered you out of your homes to fight for the true cause, even though some Muslims disliked it, and were averse (to fighting).”

Qur’an:8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”

The non-believers has never respected us. Every Islamic scholar will tell you that the Muslims world are backward because of what the Wests did to us. It is time to use sword verses on them. Ehh, I see no conjunction between your first, second and third sentences. Care to explain more?

Quran verse 4:34 Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme.

Is this in quran? Waaao, aluang you show me how bad islam is. That’s why islam never respect women, full of violence.

The Quran repeatedly claims to be a “clear book” (5:15) “easy to understand” (44:58 , 54:22 , 54:32, 54:40) “explained in detail” (6:114), “conveyed clearly”, (5:16, 10:15) and with “no doubt” in it (2:1). You are contradicting Allah’s own statement by claiming learned Islamic scholars well-versed with Arabic such as Yusuf Ali, Pickthal, Shakir, Al-Hilali & Mohsin Khan and dozens more, were wrong!

Note Q4:34 that the wife is not beaten to save the marriage, but to bring her into obedience to the man. A husband is free to divorce his wife by talaking 3 times, even if she is not disobedient. A wife may be pleasing to her husband in many areas, but disobey him in one.

The author in the link you gave is unsure of her own interpretation. She ended with these,

Dear Aluang, I don’t want to get personal to you, I respect you and your comments what ever they are. As we celebrate Ramadhan I don’t want to have enemy. In the past I must said something that not appropriate so there for I apologise.

Thank you very much for your comment on the 1st Sept. It was make me feel better. How very kind of you, however,let them say what they like, everyone opinions are different, that what the forum for.But we shall not fight for it (hate each other) just because of different opinion. Live is move on I shall go on now and see you later.

First I ‘ll start with the fact that I ‘m a Jehovahs witness and as you all know who have heared of us that we are the most high moral christains a round . We dress very modestly according to whats consiter apporate in different countrys . The key word here is Modest , see those of you wh are muslims need to understand that depends on where you live and what country you live in . Modesty is all relative to Country one lives it as well as religious believes . I always rspect you all for you’re belifs please show us the same respect who are non muslims and judgeing us on what were wearing .There are a lot of muslims that don’t dress the way they should either but no one on the earth is perfect here . The way on dress says a lot about what is going on with the person on the in side . It reflects what they are feeling and choosing to become. people change their style over the years so what they may wear now will not be what they wear 25 years later . The bible even says for all to dress modestly but it didn’t say you all had to competely look all a like in Dress . There just needs to be a balance . Key word Balance in every thing.